Exclusive 'Naruto: Clash of the Ninja Revolution 2' Hands-On

We sat down with the developers of upcoming Wii fighter Naruto: Clash of the Ninja Revolution 2 and got some coveted hands-on time with the game. Don't hate us because we're beautiful. Here's how X-Play producer Rob Manuel laid out his impressions of the game:

While the kid with the fox demon vibe may be making waves on the Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles, the Wii will get a little of the orange ninja love this fall when Naruto: Clash of the Ninja Revolution 2 hits the shelves. When looking for new ideas and ways to expand on this ninja fight fest, they went to the people who mattered most – the fans. Developers asked well-seasoned players what they wanted in a Naruto title and that’s exactly what they’re getting. Revolution 2 seems to be the culmination of some intense ninja programming by adding more characters, more modes, and completely new story that isn’t the same old rehash of season one.

Our fair-haired warrior makes his way back with more than the usual suspects of friends and foes in tow. The story takes a new direction by focusing on a secret organization, the Anbu. Think of these guys as the black ops of the black belt. Beyond its general roster, Revolution 2 expands the lineup to include 35 characters from the series and a couple of new faces created just for the game. Some of them may have only appeared a couple of times in the show, but this gives developers a chance to expand on novel fighting tactics with some fresh faces. Those extra characters will come in handy when you take on the new tag team battles.

We got a chance to experience some tag-team action firsthand with the publisher’s latest visit. Revolution 2 lets you team up any of the characters for battle, but rewards players who combine fighters with special relationships with devastating tag-team techniques. In addition, hand signs from the series add a boost to any character with a flick of the Wiimote. Paper bombs make an appearance by letting you litter the field with exploding traps. Combo cancels, aerial throws, counters, and a harder difficulty level all went in to making sure the heart of a ninja is still beating behind that pretty boy smile.

Fighting is relatively the same as the last game. Wiggling the stick gives you the quick attacks while buttons give you the heavier attacks and special skill. Someone who has never picked up the game before can probably hold their own in the easiest level. Trying to pull off the pin-point accuracy with paper bombs wasn’t as easy as you would expect but you can still dish them out without having to target specific areas. Tag team moves were pretty easy to pull off quickly early in the match but it will take some patience if you want to use them for finishing moves. On the surface, it’s pretty easy to wiggle your way through, but there are hints of something more underneath.

Besides story mode, versus, and the new tag-team option; the new kumite mode pits you against an endless stream of rogue ninjas. Just as you take care of one, another one or two pop in to take his place. With up to four players being able to battle it out on screen at once, Naruto: Clash of the Ninja Revolution 2 is shaping up to be another fan favorite this fall. Be sure to look for a full review of the title once the game comes out.